The legend of Holi

The Festival Of Colours

Everyone loves to play Holi. But most people don't know much about how the festival of colours started. There are two main stories associated with the festival. Let's revisit them...

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The Legend Of Holika And Prahlad

There was once a demon king by the name of Hiranyakashyap, who was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him. But to his great disappointment, his son Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana and refused to worship his father. Hiranyakashyap tried several ways to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time. Finally, he asked his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a boon, whereby she could enter the fire unscathed. Treacherously, Holika coaxed young Prahlad to sit in her lap and she herself took her seat in a blazing fire. However, since Prahlad kept chanting the name of Lord Narayana, he came out unharmed, with the Lord blessing him for his devotion.

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Symbolic Bonfires

Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika, and represents a celebration of good over evil. People re-enact the scene of Holika and Prahlad by lighting huge bonfires and shouting 'Holi-hai! Holi-hai!' to mark Prahlad's victory over evil intentions by sheer faith.

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Agni Puja

The tradition of burning 'Holika' is religiously followed in the Indian states of Gujarat and Orissa. In these places, people also express their gratitude to Agni, the god of fire, by offering pulses and stalks from the harvest, with all humility.

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The Krishna Connection

In Brajbhoomi, present-day Uttar Pradesh, HOli has an association with Krishna. In fact, Braj ki Holi is a 16-day festival that celebrates the divine love of Radha and Krishna, the month being Falgun, or the season of love.

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So, What is The Holi Connection?

There are many symbolic stories behind the Krishna connection. Krishna is believed to have his characteristic dark blue skin colour because of Putana's poisonous breast milk. Apparently, Krishna despairs whether Radha and other gopis will like him because of his skin colour. Yashoda tells Krishna to spray colour on Radha's face as well to make her a match for himself. Indeed, Krishna does that and therein lies the tradition of colour.

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Braj Ki Holi

Radha and the gopis celebrating Holi, to the accompaniment of musical instruments, is an important festival for Hindus. It has an opportune occasion. It is celebrated at the end of the winter season, on the last full moon day of the lunar month of Phalgun, which is Phalgun Purnima.

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Gulal Ki Dhuli

Holi is also known as Dhuli in Sanskrit, and also as Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi. Children and youth spray coloured powder, known as gulal, at each other. There's laughter and celebration, as people smear dry coloured powder, known as abir, on each other's face. Visitors to homes are also teased with colours.

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Food Delights

After playing to their heart's content, people return home and take baths. Then, it is time to gorge on Holi delicacies like gujiya and Holi drinks like thandai.

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Legend Of Kamdeva

Though there is no celebration of Holi in south India, some communities offer worship to Kamadeva, the god of love, on Holi Purnima.